Samsung is preparing to evangelize its first Neo QLED Agile Matrix Mini LED LCD TVs into the U.S. marketplace, promising more OLED-like blacks, bright highlights and thinner panel designs, among many new features and advancements. After having tested the 65-inch 4K 65QN90A, we found a lot to like in this latest evolution of LCD technology.

What's noteworthy nearly Samsung's first implementation of "Neo QLED" is that it marks the commencement utilise of agile matrix (Samsung calls this Breakthrough Matrix) Mini LED technology, presenting nicely realistic looking image quality, excellent gamma performance after calibration in both SDR and HDR content, and sharp articulate images that enhance the feeling of three dimensionality in a motion picture. The engineering science reduces some of the issues with flashing sometimes found in early Mini LED implementations, although it doesn't completely eliminate blooming bug common in backlit displays.

Still, black reproduction is among the all-time we've seen in an LCD television. High dynamic range (HDR) images are presented with nicely defined dark shadow detail and pleasingly inky blacks, though, as mentioned, the technology still exhibits some light blooming (or haloing) around bright white objects on black backgrounds. Some milky blooming can be seen around star clusters in the moving Star Field test pattern from the Spears & Munsil 4K UHD exam disc.

Still, this is greatly reduced from other LCD displays we've seen and we didn't pick up any flashlighting or spillage of low-cal into black letterbox frames on screen.

At the same time, viewers become brilliantly bright HDR specular highlights with peak brightness levels exceeding 1785 nits and up to 100% color volume. The overall flick quality and color accuracy was immersive and engaging enough to go along our attending focused on the story and not the picture limitations.

This high effulgence impacts contrast only slightly. A faint hazy cast can be seen across the screen in some vivid scenes from both standard dynamic range (SDR) and high dynamic range (HDR) material. Thus, the puzzler for buyers continues to be making a choice betwixt nearly pure black (OLED) or nearly 2000 nits of top HDR brightness (Neo QLED) with 100% color volume and all of the color shading nuances that brightness delivers. Both LCD and OLED technologies are advancing significantly this twelvemonth, then we go on to urge readers to exit and come across a sit-in of each to determine which presentation is nearly of import to you.

Beyond the movie, Samsung delivers a beautiful overall blueprint hither, with a pregnant reduction in console depth (just one half inch in this series). The QN90A models omit the One Connect box establish this year in forthcoming Samsung 8K serial like the QN900A. This enables connections to plug directly into the back of the console. Side-facing inputs are located to right side of the screen facing out toward the right side of the frame from the viewer's perspective.

The QN90A Series

Samsung's QN90A stands atop of the Samsung 2021 4K Neo QLED series offerings in the United States. The series' v screen sizes (most available for pre-guild today) include: 85 ($4,999.99), 75 ($3,499.99) 65 ($ii,599.99), 55 ($ane,799.99), and 50 (arriving subsequently, price TBA) inches. All offer similar features and functioning levels except the 50-inch which has Breakthrough HDR 24X processing system instead of Breakthrough HDR 32X in other models. It also lacks the Q-Symphony sound characteristic and has a 40-watt 2.2-channel on-board sound system instead of the lx-watt 4.two.2-channel environs sound system found on the larger models.

What is Neo QLED Mini LED?

  • Superlative luminace measured past D65 white window design size in Portrait Display'southward Calman calibration software.

Unlike previous Samsung QLED TVs, the 2021 Neo QLED series are based on new Mini LED backlight technology. This means the tiny LEDs that illuminate the LCD images from behind are reduced to 1/40th the height of a conventional LED. These smaller LEDs enable plumbing fixtures in more than private points of light across the back plane to illuminate pixels with greater control of LED local dimming zones for more accurate results. Unfortunately, this still isn't controllable at the pixel level equally is the instance with self-emitting display technologies, like OLED or MicroLED. That means, there will still exist some blooming issues and slightly weaker overall contrast. Still, the big number of dimming zones (more than 700 in this case) ways getting more precise control of dark elements of the motion picture by almost shutting down areas of emitted light. It does a nice job of creating about pure black without crushing out dark shadow detail. That's an important benefit to some video gamers who need seeing every nuance of an image to gain competitive advantage.

Samsung said that Neo QLED increases the luminance scale to 12-bit with 4096 steps to make dark areas darker and vivid areas brighter.

Instead of using a lens to disperse LED light, the Breakthrough Mini LEDs utilize very thin microlayers filled with many more LEDs. The new Breakthrough Matrix Technology Samsung employs enables ultra-fine and precise command of the densely packed LEDs. This helps to reduce blooming, though not entirely eliminating it. Information technology also reduces flashing which has resulted in some passive matrix LED implementations.

Nosotros ran the torture examination of the amassing legion of dark wizards from both the Blu-ray (SDR) and streaming 4K HDR versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and found the faint white mist that encircles the group during the night-time scene to remain both visible in the shadow particular and light gray in color — not changed to a black blob or crushed out of view entirely, equally some lesser televisions render it.

Similarly, nosotros institute the opening starfield during the title sequence for The Martian nicely presented the range of visible stars while preserving the inky black groundwork of infinite.

Our review sample had fairly even white and gray screen uniformity, with niggling to no dingy screen upshot. We only noticed darkened bands along the vertical left and right edges of the screen, and this was almost invisible behind real world video images. Black screen uniformity was similarly excellent.

Neo Breakthrough Processor

To control all of the new movie processing elements, Samsung uses its new Neo Quantum Processor with enhanced upscaling capabilities. This employs up to 16 different neural network models, each trained in AI upscaling and deep learning technology. The Neo Quantum Processor can optimize picture quality to nigh 4K output from various quality levels of source content. Native Full Hard disk and 4K UHD movie sources offered clean, shine images and colors with very little added or noticeable color banding (contouring) artifacts. Lower resolution textile, such as DVDs, appeared as they would await on a native Hard disk drive screen without added upscaling noise or blocking artifacts. Analyzing a DVD copy of Alfred Hitcock's Psycho showed the opening on-screen credits with no greater blocking artifacts effectually lettering than can be seen on 720p screens, and picture noise was non overly enhanced or smoothed over to remove the desired original black-&-white picture show grain. Viewing the opening night harbor sequence from the standard Blu-ray version of Pirates of the Carribean: At World'southward End presented some low-racket artifacts with Picture Clarity settings turned off simply these cleared nicely without impacting desired picture show grain when Dissonance Reduction was turned on.

Quantum Dot Color

Of course, as a QLED Television receiver, the Samsung 65QN90A continues to feature a quantum dot colour enhancement film layer embedded with nano-sized spheres of heavy metallic elements that glow brightly when excited by photons from the LED backlight. The reaction gives off wider, brighter color tones than conventional LCDs tin can. Color gamut coverage is much the same as it was in last year's models, with wide color gamut coverage of between 93.8% (xy) and 95.4% (uv) of the DCI-P3 colour gamut recommendation, although this is slightly lower than establish in better Samsung QLED sets two and three years dorsum. Samsung continues to employ ten-bit LCD panels with a 120 Hz native refresh rate.

Coral reef scenes from the 4K Ultra Hard disk drive Blu-ray version of The BBC'southward Blue Planet 2 were brilliantly rich and detailed without being overly saturated. Similarly, the crimson in the Ohio State NCAA football game uniforms was accurately presented without bravado out details or adding noisy unnatural looking over-saturation.

Wide Viewing Angles

Samsung has done a lot to reduce OLED'due south "ultra wide viewing angle" advantage over the past three years, with its own "Ultra Wide Angle" technology (just "wide viewing bending" in the 50-inch model). This year'due south QN90A series continues to provide nice wide (left-and-right bending) contrast and colour retention although some contrast is lost when viewing from a loftier angle looking down on the screen, as would be the example when standing up from a seated position in front of a table-pinnacle set placement. Samsung too continues to provide its anti-reflection film engineering science that significantly reduces the amount of visible room reflection when looking directly at the screen. When a room light is shining into the set up a brilliant spot and cascading rainbow patterns are slightly visible on the screen, but this is controllable by just lowering the lights or removing the light source. The reduced screen glare is 1 of Samsung's big advantages over some OLED models, which tend to have highly reflective screen surfaces.

On-board Audio

Although we look many people who buy a QN90A series model will opt to add-on a soundbar or home theater surround sound speaker bundle for the best sight and sound result, those who don't take the budget or space for this will detect the delivered sound output from the TV is quite good. Samsung continues to evolve the sound output of its televisions using AI technology that car balances the sound settings to ambient room weather. Samsung also offers in this series Object-Tracking-Sound-Plus processing that creates the effect of following objects and people in the scene around the screen in relation to their position relative to the audience. Samsung's Q-Symphony characteristic offered in nearly models allows linking a supporting Samsung Soundbar to the television to tap the on-board up-firing speakers to expand the centre and elevated environment sound furnishings.

See What Your 4K UHD TV Tin can Really Do With The Spears & Munsil 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc, $39.95.

Portrait Displays Calman Brandish Scale Software

Amazon's Best Selling 4K Ultra HDTVs

Amazon's Camera, Photo & Video Deals

Amazon Fire TV Cube Media Adapter with Alexa

Amazon Fire Television receiver Stick with Alexa Voice Remote

Amazon Echo Smart Speaker with Alexa Voice Control

Amazon Echo Show 8 Alexa Vocalism Controlled Smart Screen

Amazon Repeat Dot with Clock Voice Controlled Speaker

Amazon Echo Studio 3D Sound Alexia Smart Speaker

All-time Selling Soundbars and 5.1 Surroundings Systems

Best Selling Blu-ray Players

Samsung equips the sets with tweeters and woofers at the bottom right and left of the screen along with tweeters at the top in the back. This provides a full, wide audio stage for a born audio platform, although it is somewhat thinner and boxier than a total external home theater surround sound speaker ready with a prissy subwoofer. It's also non quite upward to the level of a good Samsung Dolby Atmos soundbar. Adding one on that supports Q-Symphony keeps the TV's up-firing speakers active, giving audio a more spacious and encompassing consequence. Samsung continues to offer a new voice amplification system that lifts voices for clearly audible dialog in lower-volume soundtracks or against loud audio effects. Samsung also provides a organisation that can automatically conform dialog levels against competing ambient room noise.

Inputs

Samsung offers four HDMI inputs on the back of the QN90A series models, only HDMI input No. four offers full HDMI 2.1 with up to 4K/120 fps high bandwidth support and the latest gaming features. This is unlike the 8K QN900A serial where all 4 HDMI outputs support full HDMI ii.one 4K/120fps (an pick serious gamers might want to consider stepping up to accept). Other avant-garde gaming features supported in these models include Variable Refresh Charge per unit (VRR), FreeSync, Machine Low Latency Mode, and High Frame Charge per unit (through No. 4 only). The HDMI Audio Return Aqueduct (ARC) and new enhanced ARC systems are supported on HDMI input No. 3.

Other inputs include: 2 USB, 1 Ethernet, i optical sound output, 1 RS232 control port, and 1 RF antenna input.

These models also support built-in WiFi half-dozen (802.11ac) Bluetooth 4.2, DLNA, Tap View, Connect Share, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support (requires iOS 12.3 or later or macOS 10.14.five or afterwards).

Design

The QN90A serial features an elegant looking "NeoSlim Design" with a "sand black" stand and bezel trim. The "Bending Plate Stand up" is a central pillar-style base that screws into place at the center rear of the ready. The stand allows 2.v-inches of clearance betwixt the top of the base of operations plate and the bottom of the bezel chin. This might effect in blocking a small portion of the lesser of the movie with some soundbars. The base plate protrudes about 3.75 inches in front of the screen. The design offers an ultra-thin bezel leaving virtually a quarter of inch of black trim framing all four sides of the screen. The back of the fix is made of a nice looking mat-black textured plastic with a slight convex arc starting from the edge of the edge trim running out toward the heart of the screen. Samsung provides channels along the back of the set and down the stand for cable management to hide cords.

Smart TV

Samsung continues to upgrade its popular Tizen smart Boob tube operating organization to provide both more streaming entertainment content options and add-on capabilities to assist make the television useful as a communications tool during the Covid-nineteen crisis, such that an optional add-on photographic camera can be used to engage in video calls and conferences through the big screen.

Among some of the new and pop returning features this year are the post-obit:

Multi View provides a pic by moving-picture show characteristic that enables watching 2 sources on the same screen at one time. This will enable calling upwardly YouTube, for example, on one screen while watching a broadcast TV program on the other. Alternatively, one screen could be used to view a mirrored smartphone screen to take a video telephone call while standing to lookout man a sporting consequence on the other. Users volition have the pick of viewing ii pictures of the same size at one time or adjusting the various screen sizes for a customized view.

Some of this yr's sets, including the QN90A, feature the ability to add together on an optional Logitech USB photographic camera to gain Spider web Cam functionality. This could be handy for a number of purposes including self-monitoring an exercise workout while following a video tutorial on a 2nd screen. Eventually, the system will also enable making video calls, using a Google Duo app.

Near 2021 Samsung TVs including the QN90A go on to offer the visitor'southward Smart Things app for use with smartphones and tablets (iOS and Android based) to allow users to integrate smart home device control. This enables controlling networked lights or monitoring surveillance cameras through the television receiver.

To facilitate use of the television for work-at-dwelling house tasks, the company has adult the Samsung DeX organisation enabling a smartphone and goggle box on the same WiFi network to show what is basically a Windows desktop on the television screen using documents from the smartphone. A mouse and keyboard can be wirelessly linked to the television.

Samsung QLED televisions can also access and edit Office 365 documents from the Microsoft cloud, using a wireless keyboard continued via Bluetooth.

This year, Samsung significantly steps up video gameplay functionality with a new Game Bar mode that volition chop-chop recall pertinent display information for getting the most out of avant-garde games. When the set is continued to a PC with a higher performing graphics carte or an advanced gaming console, users volition be able to employ a long press and hold on the play button on the remote to bring upward a menu with information on image resolution, refresh rate, aspect ratio and sound to make fast adjustments on the fly. Firmware in our review sample was non fully operational, only when fully installed and updated the Samsung television will brandish games from high-level graphics cards with extra-wide picture aspect ratios including 21:9 and 32:ix, where supported.

Input lag for 1080p and 4K Ultra Hard disk drive at 60Hz measured an fantabulous 9.2 ms.

Calibration

Samsung will be supporting its 2021 Neo QLED TVs with Portrait Display's AutoCal system for its Calman brandish calibration software. Still, it wasn't ready in time for our test. Fortunately, we found out-of-box settings under "Movie" style to require very petty manual adjustment for both SDR/BT.709 and HDR/DCI-P3 to achieve an fantabulous moving-picture show. Samsung provides nice gamma controls that were very responsive and helped united states dial in the perfectly apartment levels for SDR gamma at a two.2 design level for our moderately vivid testing room. Subsequently grayscale scale, the television'south EOTF blueprint followed the ramp design line tightly, indicating accurate brightness.

For HDR, Samsung televisions go along to back up the HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and new HDR10+ ADAPTIVE system that uses HDR10+ dynamic metadata, in conjunction with existent-time ambient light data, to automatically optimize effulgence levels, on a scene-by-scene basis. This helps to ensure the creative intent remains in tact under different lighting weather condition.

Remote

To operate the slick on-screen user interface and smart Boob tube functions, Samsung continues to use its minimal button One Remote. Only this yr, the familiar processed bar shaped unit offers some major changes including born rechargeable batteries that tin can exist repowered with solar energy or past plugging in a USB-Type C ability charging cable. This is 1 of Samsung's means of beingness more environmentally responsible this year, and should salve users the bother and expense of periodic battery replacement. The remote offers three fast-access buttons for Netflix, Prime Video and Samsung TV Plus apps. The latter is Samsung'due south ain portal for gratuitous ad-supported content and special interest/how-to channels, some of which might be subscription based in time.

Additional Features

Samsung again offers the new Filmmaker Mode developed by the Ultra Hard disk drive Alliance to automatically put the television into the best mode for film-based picture content to preserve the creative intent for the title. This basically puts the television settings at close to Movie mode levels, while ensuring Picture Clarity settings are turned off to prevent the dreaded lather opera effect (SOE). We point out, notwithstanding, that this tended to darken the overall look from our calibrated settings. In improver, Samsung'southward movement reduction system has been improved over the years to greatly diminish SOE when properly adapted. This can be helpful in reducing abrasive judder that results in some photographic camera-pan sequences. We advise using the Film Manner and experimenting with the customized picture clarity settings to tune in the right amount of dejudder and noise reduction for your tastes, keeping an eye on any sign of over sharpening that can consequence in SOE forth the style.

Samsung QLED Tv set purchasers this year will too get a built-in over-the-air Tv tuner supporting both the legacy ATSC ane.0 and newly emerging ATSC three.0 "NextGen TV" stations. When continued to an over-the-air Television set antenna appropriate for your reception conditions, this ensures the TV will be ready for both today'southward and future OTA broadcasts offering some of the latest capabilities, like 4K UHD support, HDR etc., when or if local broadcasters choose to implement those features.

Conclusion

We were duly impressed with the advancements Samsung has introduced in this year's 65QN90A idiot box. The television offers a large pallet of new features and movie and sound quality enhancements. Neo QLED proves that LCD technology is still a viable display technology in this evolving age of high dynamic range, offer brilliant colorful images while adding a good degree of boosted shadow detail and luminance command. The image quality is beautifully clear and brilliant, and after calibration colors are natural and authentic, without burdensome detail or over saturating colour tones. The sound quality is quite good for a congenital-in speaker implementation, and those who opt to add a Samsung soundbar get an additional boost in surroundings sound outcome from the Q-Symphony-Plus system. Thus far, this is the all-time 4K Ultra Hd LCD TV nosotros've tested. Launching at a $2,597.99 unilateral pricing policy tag, the 65-inch Samsung 65QN90A is a flake pricey compared to other 4K Ultra Hard disk drive models on the market place, but with this level of fashion and performance, we think many volition still find a adept value here. Nosotros therefore find Samsung 65QN90A to be a recommended buy and award it five out of 5 hearts.

The Samsung 65QN90A exam sample used for this review was a company loan.

Online purchases made using links provided on this site might generate a pocket-sized committee for Hard disk Guru.com. Nosotros thank you lot for your back up!

Past Greg Tarr

Have a question for the Hd Guru? HD GURU| Email

Copyright ©2021 Hard disk Guru Inc. All rights reserved. Hard disk GURU is a registered trademark.